Bought a house with solar panels....

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Hi all, I moved into a house in June last year with solar panels. I am keen to take advantage of these as they were installed in 2011 so my understanding is that the Feed In Tariff is a very good one.

The contract is with EON for the panels. I called EON to get them transferred over to myself but have hit a brick wall as they tell me the previous owner has to request a transfer form. Unfortunately the previous owner has so far been unresponsive to my requests so I am seemingly at a dead loss. I can't believe that this is the only way it can be done?

Any help appreciated.

Andrew

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It was only mentioned on the Property Information Form. The questions were have solar panels been installed, in what year, are they owned outright and has a long lease been granted to a solar panel provider.

There is no mention of getting them transferred. I had wrongly assumed that it would just be a case of ringing them up and getting them transferred. I have all the completion certificates for the work etc so know it was done properly.

Andrew

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Thanks, I am currently chasing the previous owner again. Hopefully I'll get somewhere with him.

Sounds as though I've messed up. I just wrongly assumed that it would be switched over like a normal energy contract, i.e. you move in give them a meter read and your details and it gets changed over.

Will update soon.

Andrew

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Hi, bit of an update...

Spoke to the chap this morning and he was fine with me. He said he has been busy which is the reason for replying.

He said he will get the form sorted and sent off for me but said it doesn't bring in much money. He said when he first had it installed it brought in good money for a few years but that tariff has ended and its on a much worse tariff now. They were installed in 2011 so he said he was getting 40 something pence per kwh when they were first installed.

I was under the impression that these contracts were usually 20 years long so it should still be giving the same rate. Is there any way what he is saying can be right?

Andrew

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indi pearl said:

We bought 2 years ago with solar array on roof fitted by the owner in 2012 and FIT payments via Scottish Power.
The panels were listed in the questions before contract as coming with our purchase. As with yourself we were required to get his signature to transfer the FIT payments even though we now owned the panels. The old boy left no forwarding address so we ended up getting a letter from our conveyancing solicitor confirming both ownership and recipients of all future payments. Scottish Power then acted and transferred payments.
I trust the panels are shown in the questions before contract and can be confirmed as now in your ownership?

I am still struggling with the seller. Basically, I think he's having me on and just keeps saying he will do it but then not doing it. Its only a couple of pages long so its not difficult.

I have spoken to EON and they replied saying if I can get a letter from solicitor as mentioned above that it can be transferred. How long did it take to transfer once you sent them the letter? I am currently getting my solicitor to draft a letter and hope it will bring a resolution to the matter.

Many thanks,
Andrew

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Update- Spoke to the chap yesterday and he says its taking a long time to sort out the switch because the solar panels were a commercial contract. He was running his business from the site so says he had the panels set up as a business contract.

Does this sound feasible or is he still talking rubbish?

I have proof I own the panels at it says they are included on the Property Information Form so will just go down the solicitor route if not.

Andrew

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Update on this- true colours have finally come out. As suspected he wants paying to transfer the FIT to us.

He has always been cordial when I spoke with him and blamed it on other things so is obviously completely 2 faced.

I don't really care now. There is no way I am paying him any money even if I would be better of by doing so. Is there anything to stop be removing the panels from the roof? We own the panels? Presumably this will just stop the FIT completely?

Andrew

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Hi all, my understanding is that he wont be receiving any payments for the FIT any more as you have to give quarterly meter readings which he wont be able to give.

He is saying it wasn't part of the contract when we bought the house. The solar panels are clearly stated as being included so we own those but it isn't written into the contract that he must transfer the FIT. He is now suggesting an independent percentage value consideration if we want to acquire the right. Basically, he wants money to sign the tariff over to us.

I've asked my solicitor to go back and get more information from the other side and we will decide how to proceed then. I don't hold out much hope though. There's no way I'm paying him any money now just out of principle even if I am cutting my own nose off. He has deliberately miss-lead us and lied to my face.

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Old Man Fred said:

If you own the panels then there is no problem. He doesn't have to transfer the FiT, you have to do this. Call the supplier and ask for the FiT change of ownership form and fill them out. iirc for the domestic side, he wont know, they don't send him a letter telling him or anything.

Suppliers forms are generally available online, apart from British Gas who can be a pain but if they are your supplier let me know and i can email you the BG form!

Tried this and even had my solicitor draft a letter saying I own them with proof of land registry file. I filled out all the forms for EON and sent them back along with solicitors letter they asked for but they are still refusing to transfer the FIT without approval of the previous owner.

This is the problem. I thought it would be as easy as you've said but it isn't.

Andrew

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Old Man Fred said:

From EONs own website the bit about changing ownership
Eon Says"
Changes of Ownership, Assignment of Rights and Nominated Recipients
12.1 We will only make FiT Payments to the person named on the Central FiT Register as the Generator unless you have provided a Nominated Recipient.

12.2 If you are planning to transfer ownership of your Generation Unit(s) or make a change to the Nominated Recipient you must contact us to request a Transfer Form. When this form has been completed, signed, dated and returned to us along with the requested documentation, we will arrange for the Authority to update the Central FiT Register . We will then write to you and the new Generation Unit(s) owner to confirm that this change has taken place. You must notify us as soon as reasonably possible prior to your planned change of ownership and provide the relevant Meter Readings on the date of the change of ownership. FiT Payments will continue to be made to the person (or their Nominated Recipient) as named on the Central FiT Register.

12.3 Deleted as not applicable

12.4 If you have taken ownership of a Generation Unit that is already registered on the Central FiT Register, you will only receive FiT Payments for the duration of the period it remains eligible. Before any FiT Payments will be made you must agree to the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement and sign and date your FiT Plan. " my bold

Their conditions say nothing about approval from the previous owner, details taken from her https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/products-a...

Hi, thanks for the help. When I contacted EON they said that because the previous owner has contacted them they will have to wait for their consent before completing the transfer request.

I have emailed back querying it but I presume they need to sign the transfer form.

Andrew

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Notreallymeeither said:

If it was me I’d tell him I was writing to the FIT people and telling them the system has been disconnected (and then actually disconnect it from the grid) and then I’d have them reworked so the panels were only powering my use (ie not exporting it or covered by the FIT regime).

I appreciate that this would be cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I intensely dislike anybody who intentionally tries to rip people off.

I’d then possibly calm down a bit and consider offering him £200 for it and say that it’s take that or have nothing.

I’m assuming you played fair in the conveyancing process / didn’t chip him on the price on the day of exchange etc.

Get your solicitors to check the Standards Conditions of Sale that were incorporated in to the contract - these MIGHT cover the position.

I’d also be asking my solicitor some pointed questions about why they didn’t advise on this.

Hi, the contract in question is worth a few thousand a year so its not a small deal. This is why I am so annoyed with myself for not picking up on this in the purchase. I naively assumed it could be transferred afterwards and as it was stated we owned the panels I thought that was that.

The previous owner wasn't that keen on moving out and was being pushed along by his wife. I'm pretty sure he's doing this out of spite because I've tried to have it out with him on a couple of occasions by turning up on his door step and he's always nice as pie and spins me a load of lies. I hate these type of people too, the ones that are nice to your face but trying to screw you behind your back.

I pride myself on being a pretty reasonable guy and I hate falling out with people. I just don't understand some people, if he wont transfer it then I don't see what he stands to gain other than making an enemy.

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snake_oil said:

Also - what does your conveyancing solicitor say? It appears they have dropped a major bk. Surely a strongly worded letter from them will have the vendor signing it over toot sweet?

Yes in my opinion they have dropped the ball. As part of their questionnaire there is a question that says does the house have solar panels, are they owned etc but there is no mention of "Will the FIT be transferred".

I have taken this up with them and suggested they add this to their property information form for future sales so no one else gets caught out with this.

As far as sending them a strong worded letter, we are waiting for more information as to exactly what the seller wants but once we get that we can decide how to proceed. I don't hold out much hope though.

The annoying thing is all it would take is a 2 minute phone call from the seller to EON and it would be signed over to me and I'd be a few thousand a year better off. I think he is just a weasel and is probably taking great delight at my misfortune.

Andrew

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EON have just replied to my email with:

"Thank you for your email .

Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.

I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."

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snake_oil said:

The panels? You have evidence they are yours, right?

Very well picked up. I hadn't spotted that wording. We do have evidence we own them as they are detailed on the property information form. I will take this up with EON.

Andrew

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Just another update, having not heard back from the seller at all and again him proving to be hard to get in touch with I called EON again. I had previously emailed them on 10th August stating I did not need transfer of ownership of the panels, I just needed transfer of the FIT as I'd already proved I own the panels but they had ignored the email. The guy I spoke to was so much more helpful than anyone I have previously spoken to and they have requested copies of TA6 and TA10 forms. I have sent these and I am hoping with crossed fingers that this will be enough for them to transfer the FIT to me. On the TA6 form it says "Have Solar panels been installed", and "Are the solar panels owned outright". Both of these have been ticked yes by the seller.

He has said he will get back to me tomorrow, will update as soon as I hear something but thanks for the help so far.

Andrew

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Update, EON have replied with the following:

“Hi Andrew,

Thanks for baring with us while we look into this, it’s taken some time to get a response back from our regulatory team today.

They have reviewed the letter from the solicitor in regards to the ownership before, however this isn’t believed to be sufficient enough.

Please provide us with a letter from the solicitor explicitly confirming that the solar panels were included as part of the sale of *****, and that you are the new owner. It would also be very useful if the solicitor had any further evidence that they could provide confirming that the panels have changed ownership.

Once we received these we will review the evidence again.”

I am honestly losing the will to live with this. I keep giving them what they ask for them they come back wanting something else. All the time I’m racking up solicitors bills. I think they are being purposefully awkward and don’t want to transfer it to me through fear of recourse from the seller.

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Campagnolo12speed said:

Why would you be paying solicitors bills for his mistake?

I will of course refuse to pay any bills but it’s not the point really.

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Dogbash said:

I will of course refuse to pay any bills but it’s not the point really.

Besides the fact my solicitor is so useless in considering appointing another one in which case I will be paying fees.

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Old Man Fred said:

The panels ownership is only an issue if its registered as leased, which means another company install the panels for free and then they take all the payments whilst giving you a few quid a month to 'rent' the space on the roof for 'their' panels

What EON are doing is staggering frankly. Could you get them to confirm in an email which part of the T and C you have not complied with (i am pretty sure you have as i posted them previously) and if you can provide ownership of the panels that they will transfer it to you. You probably already have what they are after from your solicitor, i seem to remember they wrote to confirm the panels were included with the house?

ETA - Do you have the official form that transfers the title of the house (TR1?) to you? You can then prove that the panels came with the house, and that you own the house?

ETAA - Did you try emailing the CEO? It sounds like the people you are dealing with don't know what they are doing, the CEO team will know....hopefully..

Edited by Old Man Fred on Friday 24th August 08:58

Edited by Old Man Fred on Friday 24th August 08:59

Hi, the letter from my solicitor to them reads as follows:

"I am pleased to confirm that your purchase of **** completed on *** 2017.

I attach a copy of the land registry title information document for your reference.

I understand that EON have requested written confirmation that you are the owner of *** and the solar panels (with the benefits of the FIT) which are attached to it from the above completion date - I hope this letter and the attached document is sufficient confirmation for them.

Please ask EON to contact me if they require any further information"

As you can see he hasn't "Explicitly" said that I own the panels which I think is what EON are after. I think he just needs to amend the wording of the letter slightly which I have asked him to do.

Even when I send this to EON though, I doubt if that will be enough for them. They just seem to be overly difficult about it. The trouble is if they turn around and say no we aren't transferring it then where does that leave me? I'll have to either go after the seller through a litigation lawyer or after the multi billion pound company EON.

I emailed the CEO last week but I haven't had a reply at all.

Its all a shambles.

Andrew

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Solicitor has replied with the letter they have asked for so I've sent that across. I've asked for a response today but don't hold out much hope for that.

I'll wait for them to reply again and then decide the best course of action from there. I wont give up on this.

Andrew